Thrift Store Basket

I found this basket at the thrift store a few weeks ago. It was $5 and I couldn't pass it up. Don't you just love the fabric and lace? :-) I was thinking I could hook something for the top. What do you think?

~Michelle

A Little Penny Mat

I was editing a photo of this penny rug when I realized something was missing. Ugh, I forgot to stitch the willow trees! LOL! Such a dingbat I am this week. This is what I was stitching for my friend Kimberlee's birthday. I already gave it to her so it looks like I will be stitching up a new one....with willow trees this time. : )  It's a Buttermilk Basin design.

The actual colors are closer to the pattern cover below, but even with natural light they got distorted a bit. I dyed the red and green, my friend Kimberlee dyed the blueish-gray background, and the mustard is from Spruce Ridge. I think the black was a thrift store skirt.

Now I'm off to get a few projects finished. I'm doing a swap with Amy over at Bumble Bee Lane Prims and the deadline is fast approaching. I'm always nervous about making something for other people. Ugh. I tell myself to "just get it done girl and stop worrying!"  : )

It's raining here in NE Ohio and that's a good thing. It's so dry here, just like most of the country. I've been watering my one little flower bed and two tomato plants. So far I've only let the pretty blue flowers in the bed die, lol, but yesterday I saw a blue flower so they are coming back. : )

I went rug hooking last night with a bunch of ladies in a beautiful home. I will post pictures soon. I have lots of pictures on my phone from events over the past few months and I need to get those onto the computer so I can share them. Hopefully soon.

Stay cool.

~Michelle

A Few Gifts From A Friend

I stopped by my friend Kimberlee's today. She had borrowed by dye spoons and a wood sander for a thrift store project she was working on, and I stopped by to pick them up. Yesterday was her birthday and I'm working on something for her, but not quite done yet. My oldest sister lost power last week in the storms and was told it would be at least a week to get it back on as she lives in a small town and they are always the last to get power.  They have well water and septic, and things get yucky pretty quick. So my sister and 6-year-old niece came up to spend a few days with my mom and dad and a few days with us, and needless to say I didn't get any stitching done on Kimberlee's gift.

Back to Kimberlee's house.....It seemed like my birthday as she had two gifts for me when I stopped by to pick up my dye spoons and sander.

This adorable snipped bowl that she painted........

.........and this cute flag pin that she picked up at a local gift shop.

I haven't been blogging a lot, but I'm always checking out your blogs. With that heat we have been having in Ohio I've been trying to stay cool. We have two window AC units, one in the living room and one in our son's room since it's on the second floor, and they have been keeping two rooms cool. Ceiling fans have been helping too. I don't know what we would do without the window units. The heat index the last few days was up to 107 and it's been humid. After taking the dog out to go potty I feel like I need to take a shower, lol. Thank goodness today it was sort of cloudy and it cooled off a few degrees. : )

Since my last post I've been to a hook-in and attended a few local hooking days with guilds. I have some pics to share, but will do that next time. I really need to get back into the blogging swing of things.

I still have my rug frame for sale if anyone is interested.

~Michelle

New Tool!

Two new tools actually! My birthday was June 1st and my in-laws spoiled me with a new hooking frame. I have a lap frame, that is still up for sale as it didn't sell on ebay by the way, but wanted something a little bigger and I fell in love with my friend Kimberlee's frame. Here is the frame I now hook on. Isn't it beautiful?!?!  It is handmade out of beautiful wood. It adjusts in a few different ways and it's even tall enough for me which has been a concern with my lap frame. I'm about 5'9" and find myself hunching over my lap frame.





With some birthday money from my Aunt I purchased a small gripper frame for doing miniature punch needle. I've been using a hoop, but even the non-slip hoops have to be adjusted constantly it seems. Maybe I'm just not strong enough to get it tight. I bought it from The Bee Skep and they are handmade there by Bob. He did a fantastic job. : )  I can't wait to get punching again!




~Michelle

For Sale- Rug Hooking Frame

I'm selling my Morton rug hooking frame. I got a new one for my birthday. : )  Please check out my listing on ebay for details.

~Michelle

Portage Trail Barn Sale

It's time for the Portage Trail Barn spring sale! I'm lucky to have Mary Beth living right down the street from me in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. She has a sweet yard for her chickens, dogs, and boys to play in.

  


Her barn is packed full of handmade goodies from local artists and a few from out of town. She loves to create from items that would normally be thrown out. I went to her holiday sale in December and snagged a few goodies for Christmas presents.

Visit Portage Trail Barn's Facebook page for preview photos of this sale.

Here are a few shots from the holiday sale....

.....and a few from the previous fall sale.

                                                Spring Barn Sale- May 17-19
                                    Thursday 5p-8p
                                    Friday and Saturday 10a-3p

Look for the blue house with the sign out front.....

Then follow the signs on the fence to the barn!

Have fun shopping!

A Question About Linen

A friend of mine bought 11 yards of what was called primitive linen for rug hooking on ebay. When she got it, she quickly realized it is not for rug hooking. What in the world is she going to do with this linen? Any ideas? She said it would be great for stitcheries and is selling some on ebay in small pieces.




http://www.ebay.com/itm/Primitive-Stitchery-Linen-Make-your-own-stitchery-FREE-ORIGINAL-PATTERN-/290707609121?pt=US_Fabric&hash=item43af861621


~Michelle